History of Alabama Public Television

The
Alabama Educational Television Commission, licensee for the nine Alabama
Public Television stations, was established by the Alabama Legislature
in 1953. In January of 1955, WCIQ on Mount Cheaha began operation as
the nation's ninth non-commercial television station. Four months later,
with the sign-on of WBIQ in Birmingham, Alabama became the first state
in the nation with an educational television network. Alabama Public
Television made its first broadcast as a network in April 1955.

Alabama Public Television was a model for other states in the nation
and for television broadcasters in other countries. Twenty-five other
states copied Alabama's system of operation to provide service through
multiple, linked television stations.